Mechanical movement



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

FRANCIS II. RICHARDS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DARIEN IV. DODSON, OF WVILKES-BARRF], PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANIC-AL MOVEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,288, dated May 14, 1889. Application filed December 18, 1886. Renewed May 2, 1888- Serial No. 272,532. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Movements, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of mechanical movements to which belongs the one described and claimed in my application Serial No. 218,973; and the present invention consists in certain improvements in the latch mechanism which forms a part of such mechanical movement, as hereinafter morefully set forth.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of so much of a mechanical movement of the class described as embodies my present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, showing the latch set ready for use. Figs. 3, 1, and 5 are similar views illustrating the mode of operation of the latchtripping or key mechanism.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures.

The frame-work A, of any preferred construction adapted to carry the mechanism, has a stud or shaft, D, on which turns a revoluble frame or turret, II, that carries the shaft 6, having thereon the starting-arm 26. Said frame also has formed therein a suitable bearing for a reciprocating latch, 50, which is thrown forward (toward the left hand, as shown in the drawings) by a spring, 52, acting through. rod. 53 against projection 54, formed on said latch, a suitable stop, as 55, being provided to properly limit the forward movement of the latch. The object, construction, and mode of operation of these several parts are fully described in my aforesaid application, No. 218,97 3, to which reference may be had.

For the purposes of my present improvements the latch has rigidly attached thereto a spring, 3, which has a hook, 4, that engages with the fixed notch 5 on frame A. On a pivot, 7, there is supported the helve 8 of the ham= mer 9. The forward part, 10, of said helve is a spring, and when swung up normally comes against stop 12 before t] 1e hammer-head 9 strikes hook 4, as shown in Fig. 5. The hammer-head is thrown up by means of a key, 15, Figs. 1 and 2, whose stem 13 rests on helve 8, a spring, 14, serving to return the key when the pressure is removed.

In Figs. 3, 4:, and 5 an improved form of key is shown, the key being divided into two parts,

15 and 16. The spring 14 is placed between them, While the movement of part 15 is limited by a pin, 17, working in slot 18. The stem 13 rests, as before, on helve 8. This improved form of latch operates in connection with a detent device applied to said helve, and consists or may consist in a spring, 20, fixed to frame'A, and having a slightly-beveled part, 21, adapted to rest under and against the beveled corner 22 of said helve 8 and to resist the first movement thereof. Another spring, (a pull-spring) 24:, may be used of proper strength to draw down the hammer and reset the helve on the detent-notch 21.

The operation of this latch mechanism is as follows: The parts standing at rest, as in Figs. 2 or 3, the key 15 is properly pushed down, the particular manner in which this should be done depending on the form of key used. If the simple form shown in Fig. 2 be used, then the key should be forcibly struck, thereby quickly throwing down the rear end of the helve 8 and causing the hammer-head 9, acting by its momentum after a well-known manner, to fly up against hook at and forcibly drive this from catch 5, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In doing this the hammer bends spring 10, which has been stopped by pin 12; but immediately that spring restrains the movement of the hammer and brings this to rest, as in Fig. 5, low enough to allow hook at to be rehooked, as shown. Thus the uncatching of the latch is due to the overthrow of the hammer, this action being due to the construction and arrangement and mode of operation of the hammer-operating devices.

The improved form of key, in connection with the detent, facilitates the proper opera tion of the hammer. The parts standing as in Fig. 3, the key 15 is pressed down, either quickly or otherwise, until spring 14: is compressed sufficiently to push helve 8 off notch 21. This movement, when it once begins, is

roo

folloWed up by said spring and instantly completed, leaving the helve down, as in Figs. 4 and 5, the hammer itself operating on the hook 4 in the same manner as above described. In this form of key the spring lat should have little, if any, power when the parts are standing as in Fig. 3, so as not to resist materially the returning of helve 8 by spring 24.

The detent- 20 I do not broadly claim herein, having described and claimed the same in a separate application to be filed.

It will be understood that this latch mechanism is capable of modification in various Ways and degrees, after the manner of machines in general, within the scope and limits of my invention.

This latch mechanism is applicable as a Wheel'starting apparatus to typewriters of that general class which includes the typewriter described in United States Patent No. 299,754., granted to D. W. Dodson, .Tune 3,

1884-that is to say, to type-Writers whose types or type-wheels have independent orbital and axial rotary movements.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination, in a latch mechanism of the class described, of a latch having a hook engaging with a fixed notch, a key, and a hammer operated by said key and having an overthrow movement for disengaging the hook, all substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the latch and hook and a fixed notch for engaging said hook, of a divided key and an intermediate spring, the overthrow-hammer, and a detent resisting the first movement of said hammer, substantially as described.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

WILBUR M. STONE, DARIEN W. DonsoN. 

